Signaling system



y 15, A. E. BAILEY, JR I 1,770,829

SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 24. 1927 a Flgl; 25 4 Inventor: AllenEBaileg Jrt.

. His Attorney Patented July 15, 1930 UNITED STATES ALLEN E. BAILEY,JR., OF SGHENECTADY, NEW YQRK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL 1 TRIC COMPANY, ACQRIORATION OF NEW YORK H PATENT, OFFICE, I f

Erne- SIGNALING SYSTEM Application filed October 24, 1927. Serial No.228,245.

My invention relates to signaling systems and has for its object theprovision of simple,

reliable and efiicient means for transmitting a plurality ofindications.

My invention is particularly usefulin driving a plurality of indicatingmembers from a remote control station such as might be used in thetransmission of orders or indications, for example the transmission oforders for 1Q the control of a blast furnace and the blower therefor.

In carrying out my invention in one form, I provide a plurality ofindicating members, consisting of index hands, at both the transmittingand receiving stations so arranged that one hand of each groupconstitutes a driving hand for the remaining hands of that group,together with an operating connection between the driving hands of thetwo groups. v

For a more complete understanding of my invention reference should behad to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a view partly insection of a signaling system embodying my invention; while Figs. 2 and3 are plan views of the indicating mechanism shown in Fig. 1, theindicating members, however, occupying different positions than inFig.1.I

Referring to the drawing, in one form of my invention I provide aplurality of indicating members at the sending and'receiving stations,three index hands 10, 11 and 12 of graduated lengths being provided atthe transmitting or sending stationiand a similar set of three indexhands 13, 14 and 15 of graduated lengths being provided at the receivingstation, which may be and probably issome distance from the transmittingstation. As shown, the outside hands and 13 are the longest of the twosets, the middle hands 11 and 14 being of intermediate length, and thehands 12 and 15 being the shortest. In the transmitting station one ofthe outside hands, as shown the longest hand 10, is secured to a shaft16 which may be turned by means of a knob 17 to any desired position.The remaining two hands 11 and 12 are each rotatably mounted on a sleeve18 which is suitably sup- 50 ported, as for example, on a glasscover 19.

The shaftl6 extends through the sleeve 18 which may constitute a bearingfor the shaft whereby allthree index hands rotate about a common axis.

Driving means is provided between the out side hand 10, whichconstitutes a master or driving hand, and the hands 11 and 12, thismeans comprising projection 20 onthe hand 10 which extends upward intothe path of the hand 11 but is far enough removed from the axis of thehands so thatfit will not engage the hand 12. Projection 20 is alsopref-w erably short enough so. that the hand 12 would in any case passover it without touching it. A similarprojec'tion 21 on the hand 11 ispositioned nearer the axis of the hands so as to be in the path of theshortest hand 12.. As seen in Fig. 1, it will be observed that the hand11 is behind the projection 20 and the hand 12 is behind the projection21. As thus arranged when thehand 10 is rotated by means of the knob 17in a clockwise direction the two hands 11 and 12 will be carried withit.

In the receiving station the hand 13 is mounted on a shaft 22, while thehands 1 1 and 15 are pivotally mounted for independent rotation on apivot pin 23 which is suitably supported, for example, on the glasscover 24;

for the instrument. These hands arelikewise mounted for rotation about acommon pivot axis. Similar driving connections are provided between thehands. 13, 14: and 15 in the receiving station, comprising projections25 and 26 secured to the hands 13 and 14; respectively. The projection25 isin a position to engage the hand 14 but it will not engage the hand15, while the projection 26 is in a position to engage the hand 15.

-The shafts 16 and 22 are operatively connected together in a suitablemannerso that when the'shaft 16 is turned by the knob 17 the shaft 22will be turned in synchronism therewith. This connection is shown ascom: prising an electrical system for transmitting angular motioncomprising? a transmitting device 27, the rotorof which'is secured tothe shaft 16, and a receiving device 28 having its rotor secured to theshaft 22. Any suitable electrical system for transmitting angular motionmay be used, although preferably an alternating current system is usedin which the transmitting and receiving instruments are similar inconstruction, each being provided with a field winding and with apolyphase circuit armature winding physically similar to a three-phaseY-connected armature winding. One of the windings, such as the fieldwinding, is mounted on the rotor member and the field windings of thetwo instruments are energized from a common source of alternatingcurrent supply. The armature windings of the two instruments areconnected together by means of three conductors 29. Such a system isdescribed more fully, for example, in Patent No. 1,612,117,

to Hewlett and Willard, dated December 23, 1926.

concentrically mounted with the hands in the transmitting station is astationary dial 30. As shown in Fig. 2 this dial is marked with threesets of indications which are concentric with eachother and just belowthe ends of the hands, respectively. In other words, the hand points tothe outer indications, the hand 11 to the intermediate set ofindications, and the hand 12 to the inner set of indications. A similardial 31 is provided in'the receiving station with which 00- operatethe-hands 13, 14: and 15. It will be understood that the two dials areso arranged that when the hands in the two stations are driven insynchronism they will give the same indications.

In the operation of the signaling system, to

- give a desired set of indications, the knob 17 in the transmittingstation is turned for a complete revolution in one direction or another, for example, in a clockwise direction, whereby it picks up thedriven hands 11 and 12. It will be understood that the master hand 13 inthe receiving station is driven in synchronism with the hand 10 throughthe electrical driving connection between them whereby the hands 14 and15 are pickedup in the receiving station. The hand 10 is now turned in aclockwise direction to the position in which it is desired to leave theshort hand 12, after which the hand 10 is rotated in a counterclockwisedirection for a complete revolution at which time it engages the hand 11but leaves the short hand 12 in the position in which it was set. Thehand 10 is now turned in a counterclockwise direction until the hand 11is set in its desired position at which point the hand 10-is reversedand rotated in a clockwise direction until it is set to give its owndesired indication. It will be understood that the directions ofrotation may be reversed throughoutif desired. Since the hand 13 in thereceiving station has moved synchronously with the hand 10, and threehands in the receiving station are now set to give the same indications.stood that the hands 11, 12, 14 and 15 are se- 1 cured to their pivotswith suflicient friction It will be under-- clockwise directiontherefore, the hand 11 will be substantially above the hand 10 when itis picked up by the projection and the hand 12 will be substantiallyabove the hand 11 when it is picked up by the projection 21, and thehands may be set one above the other if necessary to give the requiredindications. If the knob 17 is turned in a counterclockwise directionhowever to initially pick up the hands, it will be observed that thehands will not be directly above each other due to the positions of theprojections, as previously described. It iscontemplated therefore thatthe hands will be picked up by a clockwise rotation of the knob 17. Theprojections and 26 on the hands 13 and 14; are similarly arranged.

The specific markings on the dials shown in Figs. 2 and 3, areespecially adapted for the control of a battery of blowers for aplurality of blast furnaces. It is contemplated that there will beeleven blowers which may be connected to any one of eleven blastfurnaces. The receiving dial and the mechanism associated therewith willbe located in a convenient place for observation by the operator of theblowers, whereas the transmitting dial 30 and associated mechanism willbe located in a remote control station. With the hands in the positionsshown it will be noted that the blower operator is directed to start(hand 13) blower 6 (hand 15) which blower is to be connected to furnace2 (hand 14) While I have described my invention as embodiedin concreteform and as operating in a specific manner in accordance with the patentstatutes, it should be understood that I do not limit my inventionthereto since various modifications thereof will suggest themselves tothoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of myinvention, thescope of which is set forth in the annexed claims. I

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent of the UnitedStates, is

' 1. A signaling system comprising a plurality of hands in a sendingstation one of which constitutes a driving hand and the others drivenhands, driving connections between said hands whereby said driven handsmay be set in any desired positions by moving said driving hand, asimilar set of driving and driven hands in a remote receiving station,similar driving connections between the hands in said receiving station,and an operating connection between said driving hands.

2. A signaling system comprising a plurality of hands of graduatedlengths, driving means for one of said hands, driving con nectionsbetween said hands whereby they may be set in any desired positions bysaid driving means, a transmitter of angular motion connected to saiddriving means, a receiver of angular motion connected to saidtransmitter, a second set of hands of graduated lengths associated withsaid receiver, and a driving connection between said receiver and one ofthe hands of said second set.

3. A signaling system comprising three hands having a common axis ofrotation, a driving connection between the middle hand and one outsidehand providing independent movement of the middle hand throughoutsubstantially a complete revolution, a driving connection between saidmiddle hand and the other outside hand permitting independent movementof said middle hand throughout substantially a complete revolution,driving means for one of said outside hands, a motion transmittingdevice connected to said driving means, a similar set of hands located 1set.

remote receiving station, projections on the middle and one outside handof said second set, a receiver of angular motion connected to saidtransmitter, and a connection between said receiver and one outside handof said second set.

5. A signaling system comprising a shaft, means for turning said shaft,a transmitter of angular motion driven by said shaft, a plurality ofhands of graduated lengths arranged side by side and having the sameaxis as said shaft, a rigid connection between one outside hand and saidshaft, connections between the middle hand and said outside handspermitting independent movement of said outside hands throughsubstantially a complete revolution, a second set of three hands locatedin a remote receiving station, a pivot support for the middle hand andone outside hand, a receiver of angular motion connected to saidtransmitter, a driving connection between the other outside hand andsaid receiver, and driving connections between said middle hand and saidtwo outside hands permitting independent movement of said outside handsthroughout substantially a complete revolu-' tion.

6. A signaling system comprising three hands having a common axis ofrotation in a sending station, a driving connection between the middlehand and one outside hand providing independent movement of the middlehand throughout substantially a complete revolution, a drivingconnection between said middle hand and the other outside handpermitting independent movement of said middle hand throughoutsubstantially a complete revolution, driving means for one of saidoutside hands, a similar set of hands located in a remote receivingstation, similar driving connections between said hands and an operatingconnection between said driven outside hand in said sending station andone of the outside hands of said receiving station.

7 A signaling system comprising a shaft, means for turning said shaft, aplurality of hands of graduated lengths arranged side by side and havingthe same axis as said shaft, a rigid connection between one outside handand said shaft, connections between the middle hand and said outsidehands permitting independent movement of said outside hands throughsubstantially a complete revolution,

a second set of three hands located in a remote receiving station, apivot support for the middle hand and one outside hand, a shaft operablyconnected with said first shaft, a driving connection between the otheroutside hand and said second shaft and driving con nections between saidmiddle hand and said two outside hands permitting independent movementof said outside hands throughout substantially a complete revolution.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day ofOctober, 1927.

ALLEN E. BAILEY, J R.

